The Geste of Robin Hood

Elizabeth Miller

Disney Robin Hood

https://youtu.be/QLhYSw67pdg?t=41s

Medieval Robin Hood– Story cast in a darker light than the Disney version

– Robin steals and kills

– Looking at the contradicting behaviors of Robin Hood,

readers see he is not a hero but rather a villain.

Stealing from the Sheriff– Little John steals “cups, goblets and spoons--nothing did they forget (Fit 3)

– Robin Hood does not commit the crime

– Leader?

– Then decides to teach the sheriff “an outlaw how to be” (Fit 3)

– Hood showing living conditions of the poor

– Removes his clothes

Sheriff’s Role– Robin Hood and Sheriff of Nottingham have a strong enmity towards each other.

– Power difference

– Lack of identity

– Not given a name

– Put a heavier focus on Robin Hood’s actions

Structure of Medieval European Government

– Politicians full of deceit and nepotism

– Those with money could buy out their jail time

– Committing crimes of theft could lead to death

– Results in lack of faith in government

– Thrill of Robin Hood story comes from stealing from authority figures

Stealing from the Monk– Monk lies about the money he has, so Robin steals from him

– Uses Mother Mary to justify actions

– “For Our Lady, by Her high steward” (Fit 1)

Killing the Sheriff of Nottingham

– Kills with brutality

– “An arrow… at will… and cut[s] off the sheriff’s head” (Fit 6).

– Lack of morals and no respect for government

– Sixth commandment

– Acting as a leader for the oppressed through this?

Conclusion– Stealing from the monk

– Stealing from the sheriff

– Killing the sheriff

Works Cited– Animatedwonders. Animated Wonders. Digital image. Tumblr. Animatedwonders, 6 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.

<http://animatedwonders.tumblr.com/post/63276746225/thank-you-to-disneyscreencapscom-for-the-screen>.

– Bermudez, Jose Alberto. Social Pyramid of Medieval Ages. Digital image. Wikispaces. Claret Science, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <http://claretscience4.wikispaces.com/file/view/Middle%20Ages%20Social%20Structure.jpg>.

– Bewick, Thomas. Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne. Digital image. University of Rochester. University of Rochester, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <http://d.lib.rochester.edu/robin-hood/image/bewick-guy-of-gisborne>.

– Collins, Hannah. Wicked Wiles:Robin Hood(1973). Digital image. I Wanted Wings. Hannah Collins, 12 Sept. 2015. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <https://iwantedwings.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/movies-disney-film-feature-13.jpg>.

– Fairholt, F. W. Robin and the Tinker Carousing, Headpiece to "Robin Hood and the Tinker" Digital image. University of Rochester. University of Rochester, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <http://d.lib.rochester.edu/robin-hood/image/fairholt-headpiece-robin-hood-and-the-tinker>.

– Frank, Robert Landis. "The Geste of Robin Hood." The Geste of Robin Hood. Painted Arrow Publishing, 30 Nov. 1999. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~ohlgren/gesttrans.html>.

– Rhead, Louis. Robin Hood. Digital image. University of Rochester. University of Rochester, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <http://d.lib.rochester.edu/robin-hood/image/rhead-robin-hood>.

– Rhead, Louis. The Sheriff of Nottingham. Digital image. University of Rochester. University of Rochester, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <http://d.lib.rochester.edu/robin-hood/image/rhead-sheriff-of-nottingham>.

– Riddick, Don. "Classic Disney's Robin Hood (Sing Along Song) - Robin & Little John Running Through The Forrest.mov." YouTube. YouTube, 18 Sept. 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLhYSw67pdg&feature=youtu.be&t=22s>.